PDD News Sieve
R.I.P. Mark Sertich, world’s oldest hockey player
Duluth’s Mark Sertich, the world’s oldest hockey player, was still skating on his 99th birthday in July. He died on Monday from complications of a stroke. (more…)
Duluth 2020 Primary Election Results
Absentee ballots will continue to be accepted after election day, but below are the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth with all precincts reporting. (more…)
Jade Fountain tiki bar opens Aug. 7
The new Jade Fountain tiki bar has its grand opening scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. The space will be limited to 50 patrons at a time due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Drinks will be pre-made for additional safety. (more…)
Duluth 2020 Primary Election Sample Ballot
Depending on where you live, your ballot might look slightly different than the sample shown here. All Minnesota ballots, however, have a slate of partisan races that are divided on the front and back, and it’s potentially confusing. (more…)
An exotic village on the Lester River
Barbara Kiser, a former Duluthian who has lived in London since the 1980s, has published an essay that prominently references the Lester River Fish Hatchery. The article appears on Arizona State University’s Zócalo Public Square, which syndicates “ideas journalism.”
Article link: Where I Go: From Northeast London Back to Duluth (more…)
Missing Person: Maxwell Willis
Update: Maxwell Willis and his vehicle have been located. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizen tipsters who contacted law enforcement, which led to his whereabouts.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing person from the Ely/Winton area. Maxwell Willis has not been heard from since June 18, and family and friends are concerned for his welfare.
Willis was last seen in the Winton area — about 80 miles north of Duluth — driving a black 1995 Chevy Tahoe with larger tires, bearing Minnesota license 6CD551.
Anyone who knows of Willis’s whereabouts, has seen him or his vehicle, or has had contact with him, is asked to contact the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office by calling 911.
Max Mason pardoned in century-old rape case
The Minnesota Board of Pardons has approved the posthumous pardon of Max Mason, a circus worker convicted of raping Irene Tusken in 1920. The incident in Duluth is better known for the fates of three others accused: Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie, all three victims of a lynch mob. (more…)
Duluth 2020 Primary Election Primer
Minnesota’s presidential primary is three months in the past, with Joseph Biden winning the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination and Donald J. Trump unopposed as the Republican Party nominee. Other parties will field presidential candidates on the General Election ballot on Nov. 3, but the Primary Election on Aug. 11 will have no presidential candidates. There are also no city of Duluth or Duluth School Board races, although one school board candidate is running unopposed. (more…)
Duluthian questions if it necessary for protesters to be black
It seems nothing is “too soon” for the Onion. Amid protests and riots following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, the satirical news website published a story with a Duluth dateline in which a “local man” questions “the necessity of protestors being black.”
Duluth’s Lark o’ the Lake Café won’t reopen
2016 photo by Lissa Maki
Representatives of Lark o’ the Lake Café announced on Facebook yesterday that their eatery in the Greysolon Plaza will not reopen. It has been closed since mid-March, when Minnesota restaurants were ordered to cease dine-in service as part of the Stay-at-home Order related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)
Noodles the black bear visits Miller Hill Mall
Ryan Carlson, a security officer at Duluth’s Miller Hill Mall, shot this image of a black bear trying to pay a visit to the Noodles & Company restaurant at the mall’s main entrance around 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Katie Altrichter Kaz, the mall’s general manager, posted the image on Facebook and wrote that she’s named the bear Noodles and considers it the mall’s new mascot.
A Homegrown Cameo
During Dance Attic’s Virtual Homegrown show, festival founder Scott “Starfire” Lunt wandered into the yard to sing along on a few Homegrown favorites. You can find the whole Dance Attic outdoor set at this link.
Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Margie Nelson’s Mix
Available now for free download on Bandcamp, 20 tracks of local rawk and/or roll selected by former Homegrown Board President Margie Nelson.
It’s the 12th mix in the Homegrown Music Festival‘s series of compilations highlighting music that has shaped the Duluth scene. View the full discography at …
duluthhomegrown.bandcamp.com/music.
R.I.P. Dr. Robert Powless
Dr. Robert Powless (Photo by Ivy Vainio)
Dr. Robert Powless, former director of the American Indian Studies Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth, died on April 25. (more…)
New York Times: Preus’ new novel for youth “charming”
Duluth author Margi Preus gets positive ink in the New York Times Book Review for her new novel for young people, The Littlest Voyageur.
Gaelynn Lea – “Rebuild”
Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea has released a new track titled “Rebuild.” It is available on Spotify and Bandcamp. (more…)
OMC Smokehouse Cookbook raising funds for Lincoln Park
Tom Hanson of Duluth Grill / OMC Smokehouse / Corktown Deli and Brews / Noble Pour had to lay off 200 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a big blow to the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
So Hanson is teaming up again with Robert Lillegard of Duluth’s Best Bread to publish the OMC Smokehouse Cookbook. (more…)
UMD’s 125th Anniversary: The Rare and Remarkable
Duluth Normal School May Queen and Her Court.
On April 2, 1895 — 125 years ago today — Minnesota Governor David. M. Clough signed legislation approving the creation of the State Normal School at Duluth. It would be seven more years before classes were held, but nonetheless, the University of Minnesota Duluth traces its beginning to that moment in 1895. (more…)
Pak’s Green Corner closing March 29
Pak’s Green Corner, a Thai-fusion restaurant in Superior, has announced it will close on March 29. The restaurant’s lease ends at the end of May, but COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders in Wisconsin and Minnesota pushed forward plans to shut down.
“What will we do next?” a letter to customers from the Pak’s team asked. “We will keep you posted by our Facebook page.”
The restaurant opened June 1, 2018 at 1901 Tower Ave. in Superior, the former location of Kenny Wong’s Oriental Express. Pak’s previously operated for two years in West Duluth, where it found instant acclaim. It was voted Perfect Duluth Day’s best new restaurant in 2013 and was featured on the national television show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in 2014.
Muddy Trails and COVID-19: Duluth Hiking in Spring 2020
Duluth’s Parks and Recreation division has released guidelines advising citizens how to use city parks and trails in a manner that will reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. March and April are also the months when snow is melting and natural-surface trails can be easily damaged.
So, where is it OK to hike and how is it done safely? (more…)
Missing Person: Patrick Lubina
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is looking for assistance in locating Patrick Robert Lubina to check his welfare.
Lubina was last seen on March 10 at his residence on Strizich Road in French Township, about 90 miles northwest of Duluth. He is believed to have left his residence on foot.
Lubina is described as 6-foot-4-inches tall, 190 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. He might be wearing a blue jean jacket with a cream-colored collar.
Anyone with information about Lubina’s whereabouts should contact the St. Louis County Sheriff’s office via 911 or 218-742-9825.
Searching for Descendants of the Duluth Tooth-puller Incident
Perfect Duluth Day readers might remember a post featuring an unusual story from 1903 about a crazed Finlander and unwanted dentistry. Minnesota filmmaker Joshua Carlon is exploring a short documentary about the event and is looking for any descendants of the parties involved who would be interested in being interviewed on camera regarding the incident.
The only named parties in the event are the Finlander John Simonson, Police Chief Troyer, Officer O’Neill and one victim, a Mrs. Elaison of 329 St. Croix Avenue.
If any PDD readers are related to this event or have connections to anyone who might be, please reach out to Josh at josh @ jcarlon.com.